Sociologists say we’re now living in a “post-truth era”. In a time when so many people filter their news through social media (affording them only the most narrow view of the world,) the rift between liberal and conservative, urban and rural, black and white has widened. Opinions stand in for facts; emotions over-ride reason, and truth becomes a casualty. Indeed, as we’ve recently witnessed, a presidential candidate can outright lie and still earn the nomination.

If facts can be overwritten by the most bombastic of falsehoods, how are we to measure the value of a non-fiction account? How do we measure fiction? Let’s explore--

This season Words Worth Books is bringing back the Tasty Bookclub with the theme of “community”. Through four carefully selected novels we are examining the ways in which fiction uncovers the truth, builds empathy, and fosters a deeper sense of connection to the world around us.

Sign up for the Tasty Bookclub at Words Worth Books for $135.00. On January 19, February 14, March 23 and April 20 you will receive a delivery directly to your door. It will contain a delectable treat from the beloved Sablétine, and a novel that has been chosen to stand as a challenge against the idea that the more frightened, fragmented and fortified the nation, the stronger it is.

The book is secret... the treat is delicious... Welcome to the Tasty Bookclub.*

Last year we embarked on an initiative to give back where it was most needed. We asked you to purchase The Smallest Gift of Christmas by Peter H. Reynolds and donated 100% of our profit to support a local family of Syrian refugees. Close to $800 was raised!

Inspired by your enthusiastic response we talked to our other bookseller friends and they loved the idea. Soon independent bookstores across Canada were selling The Smallest Gift of Christmas and donating all their profits to local families or organizations.

We're at it again. This year we would like to invite you to purchase Wenjack by acclaimed writer Joseph Boyden with illustrations from Ken Monkman. Boyden has crafted a powerful and poignant novella based on the true story of Chanie Wenjack, an Ojibwe boy who runs away from a North Ontario Indian School, not realizing just how far from home he is. Along the way he's followed by Manitous, spirits of the forest who comment on his plight, cajoling, taunting, and ultimately offering him a type of comfort on his difficult journey back to the place from where he was so brutally removed.

100% of our profits will be donated to The Healing of the Seven Generations, an organization that works with Aboriginal people in Waterloo Region. They assist those who are suffering from the lasting effects of the legacy of Residential Schools. In an environment that is personal, welcoming, and culturally appropriate, survivors are taught healing through traditional approaches and practices such as prayer, ceremony, songs, dance, drumming, dreams, fasting, and medicines.

We would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to you, our customers and steadfast champions of the printed word. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your support and we are grateful for this opportunity to give a little something back.

"Today David Worsley and I signed a lease for 5 more years at our current location in Uptown Waterloo! Words Worth Books has been thriving in Uptown for 32 years and we anticipate adding 5 more years to that running total.

In truth, it has been a hard year for this entire Region. Some doors have closed for good, some of our favourite businesses are moving, and we've seen less foot traffic in Uptown. And we've worked extremely hard this year to stay in the exact same spot. It seems we'll achieve that goal.

With that said, this year isn't over. Our busiest and most important time is October-December and we're hoping that construction won't stop you from shopping with us this season. Grandlinq tells us that by November 30th they will have King street fully paved and open for two-way traffic. We'll get our streets back in Uptown. We are near the finish line.

We have seen so much support this year, so many people came out every day to support their independent bookstore in this Region. We hope we thanked everyone with our hard work and dedication. We absolutely could not be here without you.

Step right up for an evening of excitement, adventure and intrigue as these four illustrious authors dazzle and delight with orations from their newly published folios of middle-grade and teen fiction!

ERIN BOW is the author of The Swan Riders, sequel to The Scorpion Rules, which received three starred reviews and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year; the acclaimed Russian-flavored fantasy Plain Kate, which received two starred reviews and was a YALSA Best Book of the Year; and the terrifying YA ghost story Sorrow’s Knot, which received five starred reviews and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. Visit her at ErinBow.com.

JAMES BOW is the author of three YA fantasy novels and several science books for young readers. He works as a consulting writer and editor, and writes a weekly column for the Kitchener Post community newspaper. His interests are eclectic - he spent his university career writing and editing Doctor Who fan fiction magazines. James lives with his wife, author Erin Bow, and their two children. Visit him online at bowjamesbow.ca

REBECCA J ANDERSON is the author of several acclaimed books, including the teen thriller Ultraviolet, which was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award, and the UK-bestselling Knife series for middle grade readers. Her love for the Golden Age detective novels of Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham, along with a lifelong delight in fantasy and adventure stories, inspired her to write A Pocket Full of Murder and its companion A Little Taste of Poison. She lives with her husband and three children in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Visit her at RJ-Anderson.com.

CASEY LYALL (5’4”, brown hair, blue eyes, no known aliases) is a middle-grade writer from Southwestern Ontario. She works at her local library where she runs a number of teen groups and waits for management to discover they’re actually paying her to have fun. When she’s not writing, Casey loves to bake, watch an “unhealthy” amount of movies and television, and of course, read. She’d consider adding detective work to the list if she could find a proper coat. You can find her on Twitter as @CKLyall and at caseylyall.com.

Every year we like to squeeze every sun-filled drop out of your summer reading time. We’re bringing back our popular basement sale where you can fill a bag o’ books for $5.00.

We’re also offering our "Christmas in August" gift card promotion: $40 for a $50 Gift Card! Get the jump on your holiday shopping (or just give it to yourself. You deserve it!)

And, because we love a good mystery, we’ve put together some mystery packages of carefully selected fiction and crime novels. Three books per package at $10.00 a piece... it is practically stealing from us.

…wait, maybe it is too much of a steal.

At any rate, we encourage you to avail yourself of our offers and at the same time support an independent business through LRT construction. With 3 months away from its completion, let’s get to the finish line together! We offer delivery service, a handy map for drivers and pedestrians to get around, online shopping for your convenience and cheerful and knowledgeable customer service.

We also have AC and aren’t ashamed to play that card. It’s hot out there folks.

We are deep into July and we hope you’ve had at least a few memorable summer reading experiences!

It's been kinda quiet around here... except maybe these past few days. Where did all these Pokemon come from?! We had to shoo a Charmander out of the kids section yesterday and now we have a Zubat! Anybody know how to get rid of these things?

It has occurred to us that the reason business may have slowed down is that people have headed out of town for vacation this year to get a break from the construction. Anticipating just this, we’d like to remind you of our online database where you can find all books in print, on-hand at the store, or available for order.

We have recently re-vamped our website and, in our humble opinion, it is absolutely fantastic! On it you’ll find news updates, our map to navigating through construction, a digital version of our Summer Reads catalogue and yes, our online store. Once you've found your treasure we will happily deliver it to your door! Our delivery prices are reasonable: $3.00 on a purchase of $30, $2.00 on a $50 purchase, or FREE at $75. We’ll fight our way across confusing intersections and through mobs of Pokemon zombies to get it to you!

We’d also like to take a moment to point out a milestone and to thank you. We are over halfway through the King Street closure in Uptown! We’ve been given confirmation from Grandlinq that barring a natural catastrophe (knock on bookshelf), King will be open by November 30th. We’re very close to the finish line. And we could not have done it without you. We asked for help, we asked for you not to forget about us, and you supported us with flying colours for all six months.

We don't want to push our luck but we’d like to ask you for continued support for the rest of the summer. We are so close to making it through this ordeal, we just need another rally!

▪ If you’re away from home or traveling, consider using our online database for orders.▪ Consider using our courier service for home or office delivery.▪ Consider taking advantage of our gift certificate offer to save money for future purchases (our gift cards never expire).▪ Consider putting one more book on top of your pile.

Consider us and we’ll consider this whole construction ordeal in the (book)bag!